People pay their last respects to the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa Jayaram during her funeral procession on Dec 6, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Supporters of Ms Jayalalithaa turned up in droves, lighting candles as they paid tribute to the popular politician. PHOTO: AFP

Distraught followers grieve in front of a framed photo of Ms Jayalalithaa, who died on Dec 5, 2016, after suffering a cardiac arrest. PHOTO: EPA

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seen here paying his last respects, said that he would "always cherish the innumerable occasions when I had the opportunity to interact with Jayalalithaa ji". PHOTO: REUTERS

Ms Jayalalithaa enjoyed near god-like status in the state of Tamil Nadu, inspiring near-religious devotion in her followers. PHOTO: REUTERS

In life, Ms Jayalalithaa was known for her vast sari collection numbering more than 10,500, as well as election-time giveaways that ranged from laptops to bicycles. PHOTO: EPA

The death of India's most powerful and popular regional leader plunges the state of Tamil Nadu into a period of political uncertainty. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Straits Times

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